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For
additional mold information please
view our mold glossary.
Mold
Glossary PDF
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What
exactly is mold?
Mold is a naturally occurring substance that evolved
on earth long before man. Mold is part of the fungus
kingdom (like yeast and mushrooms), and there are over
100,000 known species of mold. Mold releases enzymes
that break down organic material. Thus, mold plays a
vital role in decomposing dead plant matter, and has
given us valuable medicines against bacteria like penicillin.
The trouble arises from the fact that mold can also
break down the organic matter in items that we cherish,
like our houses, and cause health consequences in our
bodies. Thus, man has been trying to remove mold from
his home since the beginning of time.
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What causes mold to grow?
Mold needs three things to grow: food, water and the
right temperature. Unfortunately, mold thrives in the
same temperature range that humans generally prefer
(48°F to 70°F), and mold feasts on components
of wallboard, carpets and other common household furnishings
and construction materials. Thus, the only real way
to control mold is to eliminate its water source.
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How
does Mold get indoors?
Mold spores are everywhere and are brought inside on
our clothes, pets, and by the wind.
Over time mold levels indoors can increase if we don't
clean regularly. Or if spores inside find a moist environment,
they can germinate and produce more mold spores... Elevating
the Mold Levels indoors.
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How
can you tell if it's mold?
If you're not immediately certain whether something
is mold, there are two ways to tell:
• Color: Aside from the common dark green color,
mold may be black, white, red, orange, yellow, blue
or violet. Dab a drop of household bleach onto a suspected
spot. If the stain loses its color or disappears, it
may be mold. If there is no change, it probably isn't
mold.
• Smell: Sometimes molds are hidden and cannot
be seen. In this case, a musty or earthy smell often
indicates the presence of molds. But beware, not all
molds have an odor.
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Is
Mold harmful?
Mold
can affect the health of people who are exposed to it.
People are mainly exposed to mold by breathing spores
or other tiny fragments. People can also be exposed
through skin contact with mold contaminants (for example,
by touching moldy surfaces) and by swallowing it. The
level at which mold exposure becomes harmful has not
been determined. Several factors complicate this-
1) Thousands of different Mold species exist, each having
a different capacity to produce an immune response or
harmful effect.
2)
Each person has a different reaction or immune response
to Mold exposure. Some individuals can accept high Mold
exposure, whereas for others the slight presence of
Mold can initiate a profound response (sinus, headache,
fatigue, etc.).
3)
Living Mold, Mold fragments, and even chemicals produced
by Molds (mycotoxins) can produce allergic responses.
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Is
Mold toxic?
The
actual fungi and the mycotoxins the mold spores release
can be toxic. Please see EPA & CDC links for more
details.
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Who is most at risk of
adverse health effects from mold exposure?
• Infants and young children
• The elderly
• Asthma sufferers
• Allergy sufferers
• Pregnant women
• People with compromised immune systems
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How fast do I need to
move?
The EPA says: "If you have a mold problem, ACT
QUICKLY." See the EPA publication "A Brief
Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home." The reason
is because mold can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours
after water infiltration. The longer mold has a chance
to grow, the more
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Can't
I just clean up the mold myself? Why hire an expensive
contractor?
If it's a small area, you can probably handle the job
yourself. See EPA guidelines for help. But if your area
of contamination is larger than 10 square feet, you
probably don't want to tackle it on your own for two
reasons. First, without proper containment, you may
spread mold spores throughout your home. Second, the
goal of remediation is to get rid of the mold, not just
to kill it. While you may be able to wipe all the contaminated
areas (assuming you can see and reach them), this process
will not kill all of the spores, and even dead mold
can release harmful toxins. That is a why a mold professional
will actually remove the mold that cannot be cleaned
effectively.
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After
I clean mold off myself, it grows back, Why?
When mold is disrupted by cleaning, it releases tiny
spores that disperse into the air. After cleaning, the
mold may be visibly removed but the spores are still
present. If moisture is present from a water leak or
elevated humidity, the mold spores will grow into new
mold colonies. As a result, each cleaning spreads the
mold problem and causing re growth. The key is removing
the moisture. Properly removing the mold spores through
filtration and treatment will prevent the mold from
reoccurring.
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How
can I control mold growth in my home?
To control Mold one needs to control moisture.
Check areas where water may enter the home, like in
the crawlspace or a roof leak. If you find moisture,
fix it. Routine maintenance is a must. Also keep the
humidity inside below 50%, above this level give mold
enough moisture to grow.
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What does remediation
involve?
Every situation is different. Charter Oak Environmental
will propose a remediation plan that is best for your
needs. Generally speaking, remediation involves three
steps:
1. Contain the contaminated area
2. Remove the contaminated items
3. Clean the contaminated surfaces
We will explain in detail as to how each step is performed,
the equipment that is used, etc.
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How
much does Mold Remediation cost?
Mold remediation costs can vary depending on the extent,
size, location, and specific parameters of the Mold
problem. A typical crawlspace can range from $500 to
$4000, depending on accessibility and the degree of
mold contamination.
An interior Mold problem can be more costly, and depend
largely on the total area of the mold problem and the
type of material supporting mold growth. For instance,
drywall must be removed when moldy, whereas concrete
or plaster can be effectively treated.
A large portion of the mold remediation cost is due
to securing a negative air pressure ‘bubble’
around the mold contamination, which prevents mold from
spreading.
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At what point should a property
owner consult with a remediation/ environmental firm
for advice?
1)
If property owner is unable to solve the moisture.
2) If there are musty odors present and/or visible mold
growth covering over 10 square feet.
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Is it true that "bad
remediation is worse than no remediation"?
Yes! When mold is disturbed, it immediately goes into
reproductive mode, giving off millions of spores. This
can cause a limited mold growth to spread throughout
a larger area. Thus, an inexperienced contractor can
actually spread mold throughout your home. An experienced
contractor will, first, carefully contain the contaminated
area, then remove the mold in a manner that minimizes
disturbance and spread.
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What
services does Charter Oak Environmental provide?
Charter Oak Environmental provides Mold Investigation,
Mold Testing, Mold Remediation, Mold Restoration Consulting,
and Third party Services for homes and businesses in
Connecticut and Westchester County, NY.
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Our
Mold team consists of certified Mold Re mediators, Mold
Investigators, and Home Inspectors that are dedicated
to providing the most economical and efficient Mold
service to our clients
Call Today for a FREE Consultation!
888-225-6090
Charter Oak Environmental LLC, is Locally Owned and Operated
Fully Licensed & Insured
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